Chapter 18: Training 17
Part 2
I came back the next day, same time, same place, same training clothes, to train 17 some more.
"What today, sensei? Circle time to talk about our feelings?"
"17, if you don't like it I could easily kill you right now and be through with my problem! I'm being nice and giving you what you want. By this time next week, you'll have your results if you just do what I say."
"Right, whatever you say, sensei."
"Damn right, whatever I say!" I snapped back. Then suddenly I saw a large shadow on the ground, and 17 looked up in surprise.
"Duck!" he called, and I turned in time to be lifted off the ground by a large Pterodon. It called out in a screech as it lifted me into the air. Its talons were digging into my arms, and all I could do was dangle, kicking my feet.
"Hey, I'm not lunch! Let me go! 17, help me!" I called.
"Why? You can take it!" he called back, laughing.
"I don't want to hurt it! Get up here!" I screamed back, kicking the air harder. The Pterodon wouldn't let go, and the island started to get further away.
"17!" I snapped again, but to no avail, "That bastard! You let me go right now! I don't want to hurt you! I probably taste gamy anyway! I'm too tough and old for you to eat!"
I couldn't move my arms at all, and if I wanted loose I'd have to power up, and then I might hurt the Pterodon.
"Damn you! You're lucky I watch the news! If you weren't an endangered species I'd blast you!"
Suddenly the sky got really bright, and I had to close my eyes.
"Solar Flare!" I heard 17 call out. The Pterodon cried out in pain and fear, and dropped me. I opened my eyes as I fell, but 17 grabbed my arm.
"Well, I believe I just rescued you. I also believe some thanks are in order." He said as I started to float. He let go of my arm as he felt me hover on my own. I saw the Pterodon flying away.
"I believe they are. Thank you, 17. You just completed part of your training as well."
"Say what?" he asked.
"Not that this was intended, mind you, but it worked out just the same. You used other means than force to defeat an enemy. And you did it to help me, not for power or to win."
"I did, didn't I?" he asked.
Our training went smoothly like that for the remainder of the week. He was improving, and we were having actual fun. He lightened up, both in attitude and in ability.
"It's been a week, Katie. You said I'd have results by now."
"Yep, and you will. Ready?"
"That's a stupid question." He said. He started to power up to his max, and I went to SSJ so we could judge by our last spar eight days ago.
He charged at me, and I blocked his fury of punches. He was starting too hard.
He backed off and started rushing again, over and over, in a rush that was so fast I couldn't keep up with him. He landed some hits, and some good hits, too. I was like a rag doll for a moment.
He backed away and fired a Power Blitz, and I countered with a Gatlik Wave. We pushed, and came to a stalemate. Going on the offensive, I teleported away from the blasts and went behind him, hitting him at the back of the knees, making him fall. He jumped back up and swung his legs around and kicked my feet out from under me, knocking me onto my back.
He put his foot on my chest to hold me down, and for a moment I was scared that I had made a mistake. He was more powerful now, and the price would be my life.
He brought his fist back and started to thrust it downward. I closed my eyes and waited for the hit. He had me totally defenseless, I couldn't do anything.
Am I really going to die? Is my first and only student going to kill me? He wouldn't, would he? I thought he changed.
I waited, but nothing happened. I opened my eyes cautiously, and his hand was right in front of my face. He flicked my nose and moved his foot. He stuck his hand out for me to take, and he helped me up. I powered down.
"I guess all your mushy tactics really worked." He said, "Maybe there's something to this after all."
"I told you you'd get your results. You're already much stronger, maybe at Ultra Super Sayjin level. You really had me worried there."
"What, that? Do you really think I'd kill my nephew's mother?"
"Well…"
"No, I've changed, remember?"
"Yeah, you really have, 17." I said.
"So, what's next, sensei?" he asked.
"Why don't you go see your sister? You could come see Codie, too."
"You really think that runt- I mean Mirai would let me get within a ten-foot radius of your kid?"
"Sure, why not? Mirai trusts me, even if he doesn't trust you." I said.
"Yeah, okay. I think I might like that." 17 replied. I placed my hand on 17's shoulder and teleported us home so he could meet Codie.
Mirai wasn't home, but Bulma was watching Codie. Vegeta had Kanji and was training him in the gravity room, trying to get him SSJ. Andy was watching them.
"Hey Bulma." I said. Bulma turned to greet me.
"Hey! Oh, I didn't know you brought someone with you. Hello, 17."
"Hello, Mrs. Briefs." He replied politely.
"Mam ma maa!" Codie called.
"17 and I have some things to talk about." I said as Bulma handed Codie over to me.
"Okay, well, I have to go fix something anyway." Bulma said as she left. Everyone's still kind of on-edge about 17.
"So that's the brat all this trouble has been over?" 17 asked, looking at Codie. Codie looked back, imitating 17. When 17 noticed this, he made a face, and Codie did his best to copy it. I started to laugh, and 17 turned red.
"Codie, this is your uncle 17. In a minute we'll go see your aunt 18."
"All of us?" 17 asked.
"I think Krillen would feel better if I was there, yeah. No offense, but-"
"I know." 17 continued to look at Codie.
"He has Cell's eyes, doesn't he? You'd think by now someone would have said something about that, but I guess that's where Mirai comes in handy." I said with a laugh, "Because of his human genes, Kanji and Andy have some differences in their eye and hair color, too."
"But you told me Sayjin genes are dominant." 17 said.
"Normally they are, but not in the case of the Briefs line. Do you… want to hold him?" I asked.
"What? No, I shouldn't, I mean-"
"Come on, 17! I gotta get him ready for a trip anyway, and he's not heavy." I handed Codie to him, and 17 imitated the way I was holding him, "See, you got it. Keep an eye on him while I call Krillen."
I didn't go far, but it wasn't like I didn't trust 17. I didn't think he'd do anything on purpose to Codie, but this was his first experience with a kid.
I called Krillen, and though he was a little worried about 17, he said we could come over. I heard 18 call out, saying she wanted to see Codie, not to mention her twin.
I got a bag ready for Codie, and for the sake of time I decided to drive us all there instead of teleporting.
When we got there, 17 and 18 just kind of stared at each other for a moment. To break the awkwardness, I introduced Codie.
"Krillen, this is Codie Allen Briefs."
"He's so cute!" Marron said.
"He sure is, he looks exactly like Vegeta, though. Too bad." Krillen said, making me laugh. 17 and 18 still hadn't said anything.
"We'll let them get reacquainted. Lets go get Codie a play area set up."
"Sure, come with me." Krillen lead Marron and me to the living room, where I sat out a blanket and some of Codie's favorite toys. He started playing and practically ignored us.
"He sure is a cute little fellow. His hair sort of reminds me of Goku's, though."
"Well, Goku and I are cousins, Krillen."
"I just love that pink color of his eyes!" Marron said.
"Yeah, that is an odd color." Krillen stared for a moment, "Kinda like-"
"Well, you know those Sayjin/human hybrids! You never know what color you'll get." I said, causing Krillen to laugh.
That was close…
"Yeah, Trunks and Mirai are proof of that." Krillen replied.
Codie looked up and looked at me.
"Da daaa da?"
"Daddy isn't here, Codie." I replied.
"Wow, he's smart, too. Recognized his dad's name." Krillen said.
"He might become as smart as Gohan someday." Marron said.
"Yeah, but Mirai and I decided long ago when we were trying to have our first baby that we wouldn't force them to be warriors or scholars. They could be whatever they want to be."
"That's good. Who knows, maybe one of them will inherit the Angel Power." Krillen said.
"I hope not." I said, thinking aloud.
"What?" Marron asked.
"Well, it's a lot of responsibility. You have to keep your power in check at all times, even when you aren't fighting. One time while I was sparring with Vegeta, he had me cornered, and instinct took over. Even though it was practice, my instincts made me transform into the Angel Sayjin of Thunder. If I wasn't in control then, I might have seriously hurt Vegeta, but I did have control, thankfully. And could you imagine a kid with that much power?"
"Wow, I didn't realize how much control that amount of power needed. I guess it was an adrenaline rush that made you transform?" Krillen asked.
"Yes, thank goodness I had practiced in all my forms previously, or I might have lost control. To tell you the truth, I was embarrassed about it. Vegeta liked it because I needed that much power to fight him."
"Was he Super Sayjin Four?" Krillen asked.
"That time he was. He wasn't mad because he realized that Angel power isn't normal. If I had been SSJ4 and stronger though, I know he would been irate."
"That's Vegeta for you."
Codie was trying to catch his tail, which was really funny and cute at the same time. Marron thought he was the best thing since sliced bread.
"Codie still has his tail?" Krillen asked.
"Yeah, but don't worry. All the children's rooms, including mine because of my tail, face away from the moonlight, or the don't have a window at all."
"What's bad about having a tail? It looks cute to me." Marron said. Codie caught his tail and squeezed it a little too hard, and he began to cry. I picked him up and rocked him.
"Now Codie, that's why you leave your tail alone. You're all better now, see?" he stopped crying.
"That's one thing." Krillen said, trying to explain to Marron, "A Sayjin's tail is very sensitive. If you grab it, they become helpless, except Vegeta. He had special training. Without their tails, they lose strength. And in the light of a full moon, they transform into giant apes, called Oozarues, and the only way to reverse it is to either cut off their tail or get rid of the moon."
"Then why does Codie still have his tail if it's that dangerous?" Marron asked.
"Until a Sayjin child reaches maturity, their tail can grow back. That isn't until the age of 18." I said.
"Sevten! Sevten!" Codie said, pointing toward the doorway. I looked up, and 17 was standing there.
"Katie, 18 and I want to talk to you a moment."
"Okay. Can you watch him a moment?" I asked Krillen.
"Sure we can!" Marron answered. I put Codie down, and followed 17 back into the den.
"Katie, what are you going to do about your son?" 18 asked when we walked in.
"Mirai and I decided unless something happened we'd keep this a secret. If people knew about Codie's father, he'd grow up feared and hated. As of now there isn't any indication of Cell and Codie being related."
"Except for his Ki." 17 said.
"And his eyes." 18 added.
"Only the three of us can sense Cell in him, and no one has made any connection with the eye color."
"True, but what if he becomes Cell?" 18 asked.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked.
"Gero's programming, what else?" 17 began, "Cell's traits will become more dominate over time. Eventually Codie might just turn into a carbon-copy of Cell."
"We'll deal with that when the time comes. Right now, all I want to do is keep this secret as long as possible."
"Alright, secret then." 17 said. I nodded in understanding and agreement.
When Codie and I left that day, I left knowing that my student was trustworthy and he had become a good friend as well.
AS22: how was the thing with the Pterodon? Good or not? I want to know if I should add more stuff like that in the future.
17: I thought it was hilarious.
Katie: of course you did, you weren't carried off by it.
AS22: (clears throat) you guys, shut up!
Katie: But Piccolo did it…
AS22: that was a slip, back into character!